We met, we met, my own true love,

voiceCollected by Max Hunter (H-10) For Mary C. Parler Transcribed by Frances Majors Sung by Allie Long Parker Eureka Springs, Arkansas September 2, 1958 Reel 253-54, Item 13 The House Carpenter We met, we met, my own true love, We met, we met, cried he; I've just returned from the salt, salt sea, And it's all for the love of thee. I could have married a king's daughter, I'm sure she'd have married me; But strings of gold I didn't refuse, And it's all for the love of thee. If you could have married a king's daughter, I'm sure you are to blame; For I'm married to a house carpenter, And I'm sure he's a nice young man. Won't you forsake your house carpenter And go along with me? I'll take you to where the grass grows green On the banks of the sweet lily. If I forsake my house carpenter And go alone with you, What have you there to maintain me upon And to keep me from slavery? Oh, don't you see them seven ships A-sailing for dry land? There's a hundred and ten of the finest waiting men, And they'll all be at your command. She picked up her precious little babe And kisses gave it three, Saying, stay here, stay here, my precious little babe, Keep your papa company. They had not been at sea two weeks, I'm sure it was not three, Till this fair damsel begin to weep, And she wept most bitterly. The House Carpenter (Cont'd) Reel 253-54, Item 13 What, are you weeping for my gold, Or is it for my store? Or is it for your house carpenter, That you left on old England shore? I'm neither weeping for your gold, Nor is it for your store; I'm weeping for my precious little babe, That I never shall see any more. They had not been on sea three weeks, I'm sure it was not four, Till under the deck there sprang a leak, And she sank to rise no more. Oh, curse, oh curse all seamen, cried she, Oh, curse them unto me; They have robbed me of my house carpenter, And now they are drowning me. Oh, don't you see that turtle dove, A-flying from vine to vine? He's mourning for his own true love, Just like I mourn for mine.Funding for digitization provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council and the Happy Hollow Foundation